Hand Tool Cabinet Build

butzla

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Feb 5, 2008
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I've been working on this loose interpretation of a hand tool cabinet I saw in 2010 on the cover of Wood magazine:
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I have the base built.  In fact I built it around 5 years ago.  But like many of my projects I start, I put them on the back burner and seem to never complete.  I didn't like the interior of the top cabinet which is basically just shelving.  I wanted a ramped plane till.  In 2013, Mike Pekovich posted some videos of his own build that were to my liking on the FWW website.  I switched gears and pretty much copied the interior of his wall cabinet.  Although mine is built with plywood joined with a combination of pocket screws and dominos, not highfalutin dovetails and through tenons like his.

Aside from fabricating some panels for the top and bottom, I'm more or less done.  I used maple plywood for the carcase and door frames and solid cherry raised panels for the front:
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I've got a few more tools to hang but mostly, I'll leave the inside compartments empty for future acquisitions.
 
What I wasn't counting on, is how much time goes in to designing and building these little custom tool hangers.  Some of them, I had to build, rebuild and then build again.  The more I did the better I got.

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Of course, after I got the shelf installed, I realized I couldn't fit my favorite mallet inside.  There's always work arounds and actually, the hole also holds the mallet in place.  (I designed it like that!):
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EDIT:  I finally finished the whole thing.  Shop projects always take a back seat to new projects.  I noted I had signed and dated the inside of the lower cabinet.....2011!  Six years in the making.

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That is one beautiful cabinet.  I love the matched panels on the doors.  Great idea about leaving some space undone for future purchases.

Thanks for sharing and I look forward to the completion.

Mike A.
 
Jim,

That is impressive. I have all of my hand tools stored in their boxes.  [embarassed]
 
It always makes me giggle when I see a toolbox full of expensive Lie Nielsen and Veritas stuff. It seems to me a lot of people in the US seem to think you need the most expensive stuff to get a high quality result. You don't. You need skill.
 
They're not for everyone, Lemwise.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 
Jim
Thanks for posting, you've given me a nudge - I have my top built but not quite finished, although currently being used as a wall mount. I like your base and will likely adapt it for my wall cabinet.
Whilst the good quality tools are not essential, they certainly make it easier improve your skills by focussing on technique - as you can't blame the tool.  [wink]
Kev
 
Just funning with you.  Pocket screws and Dominos to build a hand tool cabinet?  Kind of like Ikea having a man in their factory hand cutting and fitting the parts for their "furniture".  Its a very nice cabinet.
 
Lemwise said:
It always makes me giggle when I see a toolbox full of expensive Lie Nielsen and Veritas stuff. It seems to me a lot of people in the US seem to think you need the most expensive stuff to get a high quality result. You don't. You need skill.

Darn those filthy rich Americans with too much money and too little skill...
But seriously, it doesn't take really deep thinking to realize that people buy tools for all kinds of reasons.  They might want something that functions great but also looks good.  They might have gone the cheaper way before and found that now they can afford it, they would endeavor acquiring an upgraded version.  Perhaps they like supporting top craftsmen that share their passion for bringing back quality in things like hand tools.  They might want a high resale value when they decide to move on to other hobbies.  Perhaps they long for leaving something of value and use to future generations in their family.  A great deal of other reasons I'm sure, if one takes but a second to think about it.
So, [member=60576]Lemwise[/member] I guess it makes me giggle when I see someone who thinks there's only their singular reason for buying a tool.  Now that we're both giggling, albeit for different reasons--I find that's a good thing.  Laughter is the best medicine, after all...  And of course the irony doesn't escape me:  Aren't you particularly glad that someone still hires craftsmen to do a beautiful custom job and sees the benefit in the higher cost than getting some off the shelf fiberglass component and bolting it unto their boat?
 
RussellS said:
Just funning with you.  Pocket screws and Dominos to build a hand tool cabinet?  Kind of like Ikea having a man in their factory hand cutting and fitting the parts for their "furniture".  Its a very nice cabinet.
There is irony here, yup.  But I wanted a strong, high quality cabinet that will last a lifetime, yet keep the cost down and also minimize time spent on it.  More money to spend on high priced tools!  [poke] [drooling]
 
Lemwise said:
It always makes me giggle when I see a toolbox full of expensive Lie Nielsen and Veritas stuff. It seems to me a lot of people in the US seem to think you need the most expensive stuff to get a high quality result. You don't. You need skill.

You do realize you posted this on the FESTOOL Owners Group site, right?

And to the OP, I like your cabinet.
 
Great work on your cabinet.  Nothing wrong with a hybrid approach to woodworking.
 
Nice work [wink]

I'm just trying to recall whether I've seen Japanese saws in a traditional woodworking cabinet like this before .. they jump out at me as a conflict in style (though I think they work well in use).

It always makes me giggle ... when people ask me why I ride an expensive bicycle when I could clearly save thousands of dollars and get the same benefit by losing one of my many extra kilos of body fat and riding a cheaper bike.
 
Looks great Jim!  I'm a few years or decades behind you.  Just ordered my first set of chisels (and I have a hacksaw  and drywall saw...do those count? [eek]).  I haven't given any thought into where these hand tools will be kept.  Love what you've done here! 
 
Kev said:
Nice work [wink]

I'm just trying to recall whether I've seen Japanese saws in a traditional woodworking cabinet like this before .. they jump out at me as a conflict in style (though I think they work well in use).

It always makes me giggle ... when people ask me why I ride an expensive bicycle when I could clearly save thousands of dollars and get the same benefit by losing one of my many extra kilos of body fat and riding a cheaper bike.

I have always thought giggling was the preserve of teenage girls..
 
Festoolfootstool said:
I have always thought giggling was the preserve of teenage girls..

No, not necessarily .. now think of all the time you'll save not having to put on make up and a skirt [wink]
 
Very nice and a very good job with the organization. You have a lot of hand tools...I think your hand tool collection is worth more than my entire arsenal.
 
Nice job

I really like that. If I ever finish my sysports might try something like that

although I dont have anything like those nice tools

I did have an idea that when ive bought all the power tools I need I might replace some of my hand tools with some nicer ones. maybe
 
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